International Women's Day
Yesterday I was invited to a concert to celebrate International Women’s Day. The performance was hosted by a local district education commission and performers included teachers and students from some of the schools.
The opening performance was a troupe of funky young teachers in midriff-baring outfits bouncing around to the strains of Ice Ice Baby. It made my day, it really did. As the English teacher who had been assigned to keep me company said “They are very attractive, I think. Very interesting!” Interesting indeed.
Following acts included a group of older teachers dressed in traditional Korean outfits (apparently) dancing what I think was an ode to motherhood, and a group of hospitality students who walked around in circles on stage before serving each other tea. My favourite performance by far was the group of young kids doing the cha-cha-cha to pumped up latin music. The boys were in skin tight lycra tops with harry-highpants whilst the girls were in fluro pink and orange outfits, shaking it like miniature Ricky Martins and Shakiras. It was all very Strictly Ballroom and so so cute.
The concert was held yesterday, the day before International Women’s Day, because today most Chinese women are given a half-day off work. I say ‘most’ because my office, managed by Australians, is one of the few exceptions. The Chinese female staff are really filthy about not getting their half-day and the box of Cadbury’s chocolates we each received from the Australian team did not seem to make up for it.
We also each received a gift from the Chinese team – a couple of grocery bags each filled with such delights as pump-packs of hand soap, toothpaste, washing detergent and other assorted cleaning products. I just about fell over laughing when I heard about this. One of my Chinese colleagues saw the gifts before they were distributed and told the Chinese management that it was a ridiculous gift for me, given my imminent departure. Apparently my gift was promptly returned to the supermarket and exchanged for another box of chocolates ("Belgian, not made in China”).
I have also received a single red rose (from one of the ladies in the office), a pink flower picked especially for me by the young driver, Xiao Luo (right from the flower bed outside the door to the office), and an arrangement of flowers from my Australian boss. These are lovely gestures however none of them quite beat what is on offer in Kunming, as described by one of my Aussie mates living there.
Apparently one of the local department stores in downtown Kunming has a special offer to women customers on this special day… spend 500 rmb in their store and receive “one handsome boy for three hours”. Ostensibly to help with cooking, cleaning and other assorted chores as required. The girls in my office are planning to move to Kunming. Pronto.
The opening performance was a troupe of funky young teachers in midriff-baring outfits bouncing around to the strains of Ice Ice Baby. It made my day, it really did. As the English teacher who had been assigned to keep me company said “They are very attractive, I think. Very interesting!” Interesting indeed.
Following acts included a group of older teachers dressed in traditional Korean outfits (apparently) dancing what I think was an ode to motherhood, and a group of hospitality students who walked around in circles on stage before serving each other tea. My favourite performance by far was the group of young kids doing the cha-cha-cha to pumped up latin music. The boys were in skin tight lycra tops with harry-highpants whilst the girls were in fluro pink and orange outfits, shaking it like miniature Ricky Martins and Shakiras. It was all very Strictly Ballroom and so so cute.
The concert was held yesterday, the day before International Women’s Day, because today most Chinese women are given a half-day off work. I say ‘most’ because my office, managed by Australians, is one of the few exceptions. The Chinese female staff are really filthy about not getting their half-day and the box of Cadbury’s chocolates we each received from the Australian team did not seem to make up for it.
We also each received a gift from the Chinese team – a couple of grocery bags each filled with such delights as pump-packs of hand soap, toothpaste, washing detergent and other assorted cleaning products. I just about fell over laughing when I heard about this. One of my Chinese colleagues saw the gifts before they were distributed and told the Chinese management that it was a ridiculous gift for me, given my imminent departure. Apparently my gift was promptly returned to the supermarket and exchanged for another box of chocolates ("Belgian, not made in China”).
I have also received a single red rose (from one of the ladies in the office), a pink flower picked especially for me by the young driver, Xiao Luo (right from the flower bed outside the door to the office), and an arrangement of flowers from my Australian boss. These are lovely gestures however none of them quite beat what is on offer in Kunming, as described by one of my Aussie mates living there.
Apparently one of the local department stores in downtown Kunming has a special offer to women customers on this special day… spend 500 rmb in their store and receive “one handsome boy for three hours”. Ostensibly to help with cooking, cleaning and other assorted chores as required. The girls in my office are planning to move to Kunming. Pronto.
posted by bvc @ 1:34 PM
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